Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. HINSON. OAR COUPLING.

No 509,372. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets,-Sheet 2.

J. A. HINS'ON. GAR UOUPLING.

No. 509,372. Patented Nov. 28, 1893'.-

UNITED STATES 1 JAMES A. HINS ON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

PATENT. FF

,CAR-COUPLINGL SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 509,372, dated November28, 1893. Application filed Ie'bruary28, 1893' Serial No. 464,068. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom itmay concern:

Be 1t known that 1, JAMES A. HINSON, of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements, in Oar-Couplers, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of car couplings which are so constructed that when the coupling head is drawn out beyond a limited range of motion the coupling pin will be automatically withdrawn; and it has for its object the construction of a car coupling by means of which, when thecouplin g i knuckle is set so as not to couple with one of its kind and is coupled with an ordinary link and pin coupling, and the coupling pin lifted into its up position, provision is made for a limited range of motion without tearing the pin lifting device from the end of the car or destroying any of its parts; and the invention consists in the details and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupler set so as not to conple with one of its kind, and coupled with an ordinary link and pin coupling. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the'same, and Fig. 3 a side ele vation, partly in section, showing my im proved coupler head arranged to mate with v one of its kind.

Automatic car couplers which are provided with draft riggings and a draft spring with ordinarily two inches of positive and negative motion, which we term a limited range of motion, t'ofabsorb the shocks and concussions due to the coupling and uncoupling of cars, are so constructed that when they are set not to couple with one of their kind, with the pin lifted and the chain to the pin lifter drawn tight and drawn back toward the car, 7 say at an angle of ten to twenty-five degrees, 7

as is usually the case, then if a link coupling "is made to'the master car builders knuckle and the arrangement is not released, which is a common occurrence with careless operators, it will be found that when an attempt is made tost-art-a loaded car the compression of the spring used in the draft rigging will permit the coupling head to be drawn. forward about two inches. No provision having been made for the pin lifter to admit of this motion, the result is that some portion of the mechanism is brok'enor destroyed. Again,

when the coupler is coupled with a mating coupler andthe draft rigging drawn forward to its limited'range of motion, the chain to the pin lifter is usually drawn tight or nearly so. Should there from any cause, due to In constructing my improvements,,l use a draw-bar A, of the ordinary construction, provided with a coupling head, D. The drawbar is arranged-between the draft timbers or sub-sills of the car and fastened to the unbreakage or destruction of parts, be an ex-- 7 der side of the longitudinal sills of the car in j the usual or any other convenient manner.

Pivotally secured to the coupling head is a knuckle, O, of the usual twin jaw type,but which can be made in any desired shape to meet the circumstances required. The knuc-' kle is locked in its closed position by means of a coupling pin, D.

' To provide means for unlocking the knuckle, I secure to the end of the car a bell crank lever, E, supportedxin brackets, e, and which is connected at one of its lever ends to the coupling pinby means of a chain, c, so that the rotation of this bell crank lever can be used to lift the pin into that position shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting the knuckle to be unlocked with one of its kind. One of thebrackets is provided with a cam surface, 6

so arranged that when the bell crank lever is turned to that position to lift the pin, as

shown in Fig. 1, it can be'pushedtoward the center of the car onto thiscam surface, and

held in thatposition, more particularly shown in'Fig. 2.;

To prevent the pin lifter from being torn from the end of the car when the coupler is set so as not to couple wit-hone of its kind, I

provide a coupling pin with an inwardbeveled notch, cl, (which Iterm a cam surface) at itsinner side, prcferablythatiside nearest the end of the car, so that y when the pin is lifted to the position'shownin Fig.1, and

the knuckle is coupled with'a'n ordinary link and pin coupler, if the coupling head should be drawn forward, there is sufficient play between this beveled notch and the recess in the coupling head to permit an ordinary forward motion due to the compression of a draw-bar spring.

When the coupling knuckle is locked or coupled with one of its kind and the pin lowered into its locking position, as shown in Fig. 3, the chain will permit the coupling head and draft rigging to be drawn forward, ordinarily about two inches, which is usually termed the limit or range of motion. Should there from any cause, due to breakage of the parts of the draft rigging or coupler, be a forward motion in excess of this limited range the projecting end, I), of the upper recess in I the coupler head will strike againstthe cam surface of the pin. The lower end of the pin fits in a lower recess of the coupler head, which is somewhat longer than the size of the pin in the direction of the length of the coupler, and permits the pin to be thrown at an angle due to the tension and angle of the chain. The continuing of this excessive forward motion will cause the projection in the end'of the upper recess to act on the cam surface of the pin and facilitates the unlocking of the coupler. The knuckle being permitted to unlock,

its car is uncoupled from the preceding car and the'draft rigging and coupler remain in place, and are not pulled forward out of their supports and thrown on the track, causing the derailing or destruction of the cars following.

I claim 1. In car couplers, the combination of a coupler head provided with a rotating knuckle, and a coupling pin provided with an inwardly extending notch on the side nearest the car head, whereby a forward motion is permitted to the coupler head without affecting the pin lifting device when the pin is in its uppermost position, substantially as described.

2. In car couplers, the combination of a coupler head provided with a rotating knuckle, a coupling pin provided with an inwardly extending notch, whereby a forward motion is permitted to the coupler head Without affecting the pin lifting device when the pin is in its uppermost position, and means for lifting the pin into its uppermost position, substantially as described.

JAMES A. HINSON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, SAMUEL E. HIBBEN. 

